Apple Tree Named &#39;Venice&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Venice’ apple tree ( Malus domestica  Borkh) is a new variety selected for its low chilling requirement, resistance to Gala leaf spot disease and partial horizontal resistance to apple scab, high fruit quality, and excellent storageability.

Latin name: Malus domestica Borkh.

Variety denomination: ‘Venice.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

‘Venice’ is a new and distinct variety of apple tree (Malus domesticaBorkh) obtained from a controlled cross of ‘Imperatriz’ (female parent,not patented)×‘Baronesa’ (male parent, not patented) carried out atCaçador, Santa Catarina, Brazil in 2000. Seeds obtained from the crosswere planted at Caçador, and ‘Venice’ was selected from the resultingseedlings for propagation and further observation. ‘Venice’ was firstasexually propagated by grafting in 2004 at Caçador, and has since beenobserved to remain true to type over successive asexually propagatedgenerations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

‘Venice ’ apple tree is distinguished by its resistance to Gala leafspot disease (Colletotrichum spp.) and partial horizontal resistance toapple scab (Venturia inaequalis), and its low chilling requirement.Fruit of ‘Venice’ is notable for its high quality, having crisp juicyflesh and a high sugar content, and its excellent storageability.

‘Venice’ is distinguished from female parent ‘Imperatriz’ by itssmaller, more acidic fruit; later ripening; more intense skin color; andimproved storageability.

‘Venice’ is distinguished from male parent ‘Baronesa’ by its earlierfruit maturity (10 to 15 days earlier than ‘Baronesa’); more coarseflesh texture; higher acidity; and more pronounced overcolor.

‘Venice’ is distinguished from standard ‘Fuji’, a similar variety, byits lower chilling requirement which is particularly suited to growingconditions in Brazil; partial horizontal resistance to apple scab; lowertendency to biannual bearing; production of fruit predominantly on spurbuds, as compared to ‘Fuji’, which produces fruit primarily on terminalbuds of long shoots; more complete and intense overcolor on fruit; morecoarse fruit texture; improved storageability; and increasedsusceptibility to penicilium fruit rot (Penicilium espancium) duringstorage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs of the ‘Venice’ variety were taken from2013 to 2015 at Caçador, Brazil.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a ‘Venice’ apple;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of ‘Venice’ apples on the tree;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of ‘Venice’ apple trees in bloom; and,

FIG. 4 is a photograph of ‘Venice’ apple trees and fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following-detailed botanical description is based on observationsmade at Caçador, Brazil from 2013 to 2015, of trees planted in 2011,grown on ‘Marubakaido’ rootstock (not patented) with ‘M-9’ interstock(not patented). All colors are described according to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. It should be understood that thecharacteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon culturalpractices and climatic conditions, and will vary with location andseason. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average ofmeasurements taken from a number of individual plants of the newvariety. The measurements of any individual plant or any group of plantsof the new variety may vary from the stated average.

-   Tree:    -   -   Vigor.—Medium.        -   Type.—Ramified.        -   Habit.—Spreading.        -   Height.—3.6 m.        -   Trunk diameter (at 30 cm above the graft).—8.1 cm.        -   Bark texture.—Slightly rough.        -   Bark color.—Yellow-green 148C.        -   Lenticel size.—1.6 mm.        -   Lenticel color.—Greyed-yellow 161A.-   Branch (fruiting branches located at around 1 m above the graft    union):    -   -   Length.—1.1 m.        -   Diameter.—26 mm.        -   Crotch angle.—80° to 85°.        -   Bark color.—Greyed-green 198A.        -   Lenticel length.—1 mm.        -   Lenticel color.—Yellow-white 158A.        -   Number of lenticels per cm2.—3.2.-   One year old shoot:    -   -   Length.—0.7 m.        -   Color.—Greyed-purple 187A.        -   Pubescence.—Weak.        -   Thickness.—6 mm.        -   Internode length.—25 mm.        -   Number of lenticels per cm2.—1.77.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Quantity per spur.—1.33.        -   Shape.—Spiky.        -   Length.—8 mm.        -   Diameter.—4 mm.        -   Color.—Greyed-purple 183A.-   Flowers:    -   -   Date of first bloom.—September 10 to September 18.        -   Date of full bloom.—September 25 to October 3.        -   Pollination requirement.—Yes.-   Leaves:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—10 cm.        -   Width.—5 cm.        -   Length/width ratio.—2.        -   Blade margin.—Crenate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Color of upper surface.—Green N137A.        -   Color of lower surface.—Yellow-green 146D.        -   Attitude in relation to shoot.—Upward.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—33 mm.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green 148A.-   Fruit:    -   -   Diameter.—70 mm.        -   Height.—64 mm.        -   Weight.—173 g.        -   Ratio of height to width.—1.09.        -   General shape in profile.—Conical.        -   Position of maximum diameter.—On the third near to the stalk            cavity.        -   Ribbing.—Narrow.        -   Crowning at calyx end.—Weak.        -   Size of eye.—6 mm.        -   Aperture of eye.—7 mm.        -   Length of sepal.—7 mm.        -   Bloom of skin.—Absent to weak.        -   Greasiness of skin.—Absent to weak.        -   Background color of skin.—Green-yellow 1C.        -   Over color of skin.—Orange-red N34A.        -   Amount of over color.—70% to 90%.        -   Intensity of over color.—Medium.        -   Pattern of over color.—Solid flush with weakly defined            stripes.        -   Amount of russet around stalk cavity.—Medium.        -   Amount of russet on cheeks.—Absent.        -   Area of russet around eye basin.—Absent.        -   Length of stalk.—19 mm.        -   Thickness of stalk.—3 mm.        -   Depth of stalk cavity.—8 mm.        -   Width of stalk cavity.—26 mm.        -   Depth of eye basin.—11 mm.        -   Width of eye basin.—20 mm.        -   Firmness of flesh.—18 to 18.5 pounds.        -   Flesh texture.—Fine.        -   Aroma.—Medium.        -   Juiciness.—High.        -   Brix.—14° to 14.5° Brix.        -   Flesh color.—Yellow 4D.        -   Stem color.—Greyed-brown N199D.-   Seeds:    -   -   Quantity per fruit.—7.8.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange 166A.-   Harvest:    -   -   Harvest date (actual and relative).—Mid-season (second half            of March in Brazil).        -   Amount of fruit produced per tree per harvest.—20 to 25 kg            per tree.-   Disease resistance/susceptibility: Susceptible, but with some    horizontal resistance to apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) — not    immune; Resistant to Gala leaf spot (Colletotrichum spp.); tolerance    to powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha); Susceptible to    penicilium fruit rots in storage (Penicilium espancium).-   Market use: Fresh.

1. I claim a new and distinct apple tree substantially as described andillustrated herein.